Fête de Seignelay

Seignelay, the city of Colbert

Seignelay is a small town in the Yonne, 15 km north of Auxerre, deeply marked by the imprint of Jean-Baptiste Colbert (1619-1683), finance minister to Louis XIV. In 1657, Colbert bought the lordship and undertook to modernize the town: he had the chestnut market halls built, which are still standing and classified, modernized the castle with the architect Le Vau, erected public infrastructures, and founded a cloth factory that boosted the town's development.

The Saint-Martial Communal Festival

Seignelay's communal festival is traditionally held on the Sunday before July 14th, under the patronage of Saint Martial. This popular festival brings the Seignelay community together for a day of conviviality and entertainment in an exceptional heritage setting.

Festival Program

• Saint-Martial Communal Festival on the Sunday before July 14th
• Street entertainment and refreshment stands in the historic center
• Concert on the Place des Halles
• Popular ball in the evening
• Fireworks on the evening of July 14th

The Colbert 15k Run

In June, Seignelay also hosts a popular sporting event: the Foulées de Colbert (Colbert 15k Run), a 15 km race organized annually since 1994. This event attracts runners from all over the region and contributes to the town's reputation.

Concerts around the Giroud Organ

In August, the Saint-Martial Church of Seignelay—a flamboyant Gothic building in Renaissance style—hosts concerts around its Giroud organ, a remarkable heritage instrument. These more intimate musical evenings offer a refined cultural counterpoint to the popular summer festivities.

Living Heritage in the Heart of the Village

Seignelay offers festival visitors the opportunity to discover its exceptional heritage: the 17th-century oak and chestnut market halls, a carpentry masterpiece that survived the Revolution unharmed, the Saint-Martial Church with its sculpted pulpit, and the tower of Colbert's castle, the only remaining vestige of the great minister's residence. The town offers a tourist trail and a game booklet for families to discover this Colbertian heritage.